A quickie with…Carol Marinelli

I first met Melbourne-based author Carol Marinelli, best known for her category romances (Medical and Sexy), at ARRC09. Her 2011 sheikh romance, Heart Of The Desert, joined my keeper list this year—I was so amazed at how good this story was.

Carol’s latest book, released last month, is a departure from her usual work. Putting Alice Back Together is her debut novel under Harlequin’s MIRA imprint, and it tackles issues such as depression, substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships and debt. It’s a story of self-acceptance as Alice ‘comes to the harsh realisation that there’s only so much sex, valium and red wine can fix.’

It varies, but probably within the first hour of waking I know if the day is going to be a good writing one. If it is going well I stay at my desk and write; if I am struggling I head to my office or a coffee shop or the beach.

Favourite thing in your writing space

Coffee! Wherever I am—home, office or beach there is a constant supply.

Best food and/or beverage to accompany a good read

A glass of wine and a good book is a nice way to unwind at night. If I am near the end of a really good book I will save the ending and order pizza. :-)

One thing you would never do in the name of research

Kill someone.

How friends and family would describe you two days before a deadline

Poor things. :-( It is like PMT x10. I tend to lock myself away, which is probably for the best, though I surface to get takeaway, or find sports socks, or cry at a friend’s—then I hit send and the sun comes out and I tidy up and cook a roast and swear I’ll be so much more organised next time.

Oh, I can answer this one. Whenever any disaster strikes home or abroad I am at the supermarket at midnight stocking up on water, tinned tuna, rice and chocolate. You also need batteries for your radio and hopefully a little stash of antibiotics. :-) (The list goes on, but you get the idea.) I’m ready!

Favourite method of procrastination

Buying organisers and making lists that are certain to beat my procrastination.

NEVER — it is the worst thing in the world and in the book I am writing now I am not going to send in the last few pages till my editor has read the rest. It changes the whole story if you know the end.

Alice is the friend you wish you had. The girl who makes a party more fun, pulls a funny face to make you feel better, drinks wine out of a mug and makes you laugh while you’re crying over an ex. Alice is totally happy, everything is amazing and there is nothing at all to worry about…except, well:

Her job was really great — 10 years ago.

The sexiest guy alive doesn’t want her — because he’s gay.

Her credit card bills are under her bed — unopened.

But maybe the biggest problem for Alice is that she has a secret. A secret so big she can’t tell anyone. How do you keep a secret like that when everything is starting to fall apart? And once it’s out there, how do you ever begin to put yourself back together again?

This post is part of a series of Q&A-type posts featuring authors who write romance fiction or fiction with romantic elements. Each post will feature the same set of questions or prompts. We tried to make them fun and easy for the authors—and we hope you enjoy them, too!

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Kat Mayo is a freelance writer, podcaster, Twitter tragic, and compulsive reader. Her reviews have appeared in Books+Publishing, and she was the winner of the 2014 RWA Romance Media Award. She believes in happy endings, and kills fairies with glee.